Electric-switch-operating machine.



No. 891,617. PATENTED JUNE 23, 1908.

L. A. HEDGER.

ELECTRIC SWITCH OPERATING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 7, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

VENTOR.

u BY' *yvof/i 'rfl /l/ ATTORNEY6 PATENTED JUNE 23, 1908.

L. A. HBDGBR; ELECTRIC SWITCH OPERATING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED JAN. '1, 1907.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 WITNESSES: 77'.

INVENTOR.

BY Mead/luv) 7" A TTORNE Y.

UNITED STATES P'ATEN 1 UFFICE.

LESLIE AltTHUR HEDGER, OF MILL VALLEY, CALIFORNIA. I

ELECTRIG-SWITCH-OPERATING MACHINE No. 891,61 I:-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 23, 1908.

Application filed January 7, 1907. Serial No. 861,165.

fornia, have invented a new and useful Electric-Switch-OperatingMachine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates not to switches themselves or to the mechanismthereof, but 'to auxiliary devices for operating said switches from adistance.

In the operation of electric switches it is very desirable that theknivesand jaws thereof shouldeome together with a measurably slow butpositive movement for the purpose .of making contact, and shouldbe'separated by-a sudden movement of the parts concerned. It is alsoexpedient that switches shbuld .be looked in both their open and f',The? bet of my invention is to provide an eleet'ric ysyvitchmperatingmachine of novel -constr'uct 'nadapted to close a switch or aswitohesslowly and positively,

penthesame quickly and'to lock hesamein boththeir open and closed posiioz 'A further object of my invention is to provide. anelectric-sWitch-operatin machine of 3o novel construction ada ted to cose a switch or a plurality of switc es slowly and osit'ively, toorilenthe'same quickly, to 100 the same mbot their open and elosed'positions,and to operate the same in their opening,

closing, and locking functions from a distant Iaccomplish my'objects bythe; means illlilistgatedun the accompanying drawing of W 10 Figure 1 isa side'elevation' of my novel switch-operating machine; Fig. 2 is an endelevation there'of; Fig. 3 avertical sectional view along the lines :cyFig. 2; and Fig. 4. a'

tog plan view.

lmilar-numerals of reference refer to similar parts throughout thevarious views.

In general terms, my device consists of mechanism for closing a switchor plurality of switches slowly and positively, means for openingsaidswitches with a suddenand rapid movement, means for locking saidswitches in'both their open and closed ositions, and means for operatingsaid mec anisn' and said other'means-from a distant point.

' Describing my invention specifically I will and positive y closingswitches from a distant point, I direct attention to the solenoid portedthereb To solenoid 2 suitable elec trio wires lea ing to the distantoint aforesaid are attached, and suitabe currents through the coils. Butin the case of alternating currents hein used, the coils are to bedivided into a plurality of sections connected in parallel, in awell-known way, for the purpose of lessening the retarding efi'eets ofselfinduction.

An iron plun er 3 is provided for solenoid 2 and is adapted to slidelongitudinally in an inner brass casin 4, the bottom thereof resting ona brass p ug 5. To the upper end of said plunger, standards 6, 7 arerigidly attached and said standards supporta shaft 34, the ends of whichengage the forks 9 and 10, said forks being extensions ef,roeker arm 11,loosely mounted on" shaft l4jto the other end of which retractilesprings l2, 13 are atto the arm .15. To the end '16 of arm 15 the switchor switches to be operated are connected .b any'suitable means, but insuch -manner t rat the movement of the end 16 toward the left operatesto close said switches and movement towards the right opens them.

Observe now the operation of my mechanism for closing switches connectedto arm 14, from a distant point. Solenoid 2 is magnetized by a currcn tpassing over the wires aforesaid, and is magnetized with snilicientstrength toovercome the tension springs 12, 13." Plunger 3 is thereupondrawn downward into' said solenoid carrying with it the standards 6 and7. A roller 8 mounted on shaft 34 engages cam 35 said cam being rigshaft14 and cam .15 by a movement which is slow by reason of the tension .ofsprings 12, 13, and positive by reason of 'the continuous application ofthe operating force until plunger 3 is drawn intosaid solenoid andis'arrested in its move ment by thebottom thereof.

' The operation of quickly opening the switches' s accomplished by thesprings 12,

13 in the absence of magnetizing current in 2 partially inclosed withinframe 1 and sup-e either direct or alternating are transmitted tached.Shaft 14 has rigidly attached there- Explainin first the mechanism forslowly idly fixed to shaft 14 by key 17 and revolves earn 35.

-locking the switch or solenoid 2, said springs acting on rocker arm 11,to raise standards 6, 7, and thereby re verscly rotate shaft 14 and arm15 through The desired speed of said movement is etl'ected by saidsprings, because they are at their greatest't'ension when arm 15 1Sfarthest toward the left, and because they have onlysmall counteractingforces to overcome.

Turning now to the means provided for switches in both their open andclosed positions, and explaining first the opcnposition locking means,attention is again directed to the cam 35, keyed to shaft 14 by key 1The apparatus is shown in its open ositi n in the drawings, and it willbe note that roller 8 in said position engages face 18 of cam 35.Wherefore movement of arm 15 from its open position is resiste'd by thepressure of said roller mainst said face, and the. mechanism is locked.

As to the locking in closed position, it will be borne in mind that inorder to close the switches, plunger 3 is drawn into sol @noid 2, andcarries said standards and roller vith it, rotating'shaft 14 asaforesaid,- and with it cam 35.

[M0719 of cam 35, and while current continues to flow through saidsolenoid any tendone) for arm 15 to leave its closed position isresisted bypressure of said roller against face 19, thus reventingrotation of shaft 14, and eflectualy lockingfmy device in the closedposition. B'ht this locking is effective only w ule current is flowingthrough solenoid 2; andasit is not desirable to continue the closurcurrent through said solenoid after the 0 using of the switches isell'ected, auxiliary locking means are provided. Said means consist ofthe latch 20 which is loosel mounted on a )ivot 21, and is provided witi an ari'n 22. 'hen plunger 3 is drawn far enough into solenoid 2 tobring. its upper end 225 bclowthc lower edge of latch 20, said loweredge is gravitativcly moved over said upper end, and locks 't securelyin its lowermost position against the pull of springs 12, 13, whencurrent in solenoid 2 ceases. Said latch is maintained in itsinoperative position by pressure againstthe cylindrical surface of p an'or 3. The l HOVGHIGllt of latch 20 is chec ed by regulating screw 24,-which is arrtmged to engage arm 22 and to stop it at any desired point,ullltl screw being secured in the desired position by lock-nut 25.

Attention isnow directed to my novel means for releasing said latch,which consist in the solenoid 26, connected with said disttuit point bysuitable clectricwires. plunger 20 is provided the. upper part3ti ofwhich is made of brass and the lower part 37 I iron. When no current ispassing through said solenoid the iron part extends lit-low and outsidesaid solenoid, resting on the bottom of brass lining 2S and brass plug21). To the Roller 8 iscarried downward over electric switches,mechanism,

:ing loss ener g than, the same,

upper face of said plunger a rod 30 is rigidly attached, beinglongitudinally movable through a guiding slot 31 in bracket 32.,

The operation of my releasing device is as follows: A current istransmitted through solenoid 26, which causes said solenoid to drawplunger 26 upward, and causes the upper end of rod 30 to strike arm 22of latch 20, drawing said latch out of engagement with the upper surfaceof plunger 3, and allowing sprin s 12 and 13 to operate for opening theswitc es.

To lessen the shock of the sudden return of arm 15 in its openingmovement I provide a buffer 33 to receive the lower end of said arm.

I claim:

1. An electric switch operating machine com rising mechanism for slowlyand positive yclosingolectric switches and for rapidly opening the same,a solenoid and plunger for operating the said mechanism, means forlooking the switch in the open position, and a gravity catch for lockingthe switch in the closed position. 2. An electric switch-o )cratingmachine comprising, a pivoted arm ior attaelnncnt 'to for slowly andpositively closing said switches and for ra idly opening the same, meanscarried by the arm pi\ ot for locking said mechanism in the openposition of said suite-hos, and a solenoid and plunger for operatingsaid mechanism from a distant point. y

3. A n electric switch-operating machine comprising, a pivoted arm forconnection with electric switches, mechanism for slowly and iosit-ivelyclosing said switches, and for rapidly opening the same, means carriedby the arm pivot for locking said mechanism in the opcn position of saidswitches, means for locking the switches in the closed posit-ion, asolenoid and plunger for operating said mechanism' from a distant point,means for securing and releasing said plunger, and a second solenoid andplunge-r for operating said means from a distant point.

4. An electric switch-operating machine comprising mechanism for slowlyand positively closing electric switches and for rapthe same, means forlockingsaid both the open and closed positions of said switches, asolenoid and plunger for operating said me -hanism, a latch operativegravitativclyto secure said plunge r in itsdownward position, a rodadapted to re lease said latch, and a solenoid 'and plunger. foroperating said rod.

5. In a device of the character described, mechanism operative from adistant for slowly and positively closing 0 ectric switQlres and for ra)idly o'pcni the same, comprising the com ination wit a closing solenoidand plunger, of 0 )ening springs opposing, the operation of sai solenoidbut hava pivoted arm idlyopening mechanism in omt,

' closing position,

. mechanism operative from a therein, standards fixed to said shaft onsaid standards, a roller on said shaft connectible with an electricswitch and adapted by-rotation-in one direction to close, ands-in theopposite direction to open the same, means carried by the arm pivot tolock the arm in the open position, a connection from said plungerthrough the locking means to said arm for rotating the same to switchanda'eonnection from said springs through the locking means to said arm forrotating the. same to the switch-opening position.

6'. In a device of the character described; distant point for slowly andpositively closing electric switches, comprising 'in combination arotatable arm mounted on a shaft supported in main frame andconneetiblewith an electric switch and adapted by rotation one direction to hlosesaid switch, a closing solenoid and plunger, standards on said plungerca ingashaft and a roller mounted on said sha t a cam rigidly fixed onsaid frame su porte shaft and arranged to engage sai( roller,whereby-the downward-movement of said roller rotates said'framesupported shaft and said rotatablearm', and'springs for retarding thedownward movement of said pl 7. In a device of ungor.

tric switches from a distant point comprisi a solcn'oid,a plungerlongitudinally movable a shaft supported in" the mainframe of saiddevice, a cam rigidly fixed on said shaft and adapted to engage saidroller, an arm rigidly fixed to said shaft adapted to connectwith anelectric switch, an

means for rapidly opening electric switches 'verting the pivoted arm, aplunger arm, means carried 'y the character described means for slowlyand positively closing elecits closed position.

plunger, a:

arm loosely mounted on said shaft having forks engageable withaforecharacter describedcomprising a shaft supported in main frame" edto connect with an electric switch,"a cam rigidly mounted on said shaft,standards'hav mg a shaft and a roller mounted thereon,

said cam being engageablewith said roller,

an arm loosely mounted on, said frarne-su orted shaft, andspringsat'tached to said oosel' mounted arm. 1 v 9. Iii a device of thecharacter described, the combination with a pivoted arm con nectiblewith an electric switch, of a closing solenoid, a plunger, and mechanismfor con movements of said pin or into rotatory movements of said arm, anmeans carried by the arm pivot to lock the arm .in one position. i

10. In a'devicc of the class described, a pivoted arm, a plunger formoving said arm, a latch adapted to hold said arm-in one position andcarried by the }pivot, and a gravity latch adapted to hold t e arm inthe oppos'ite position.

11. In a device'of the described, a

the arm pivot to lock a roller adapted to the arm in one position,

said means, and a slide over the face of adapted to move said gravitycatch adapted to hold the plunger in 12. In a device of the classpivoted arm, a plun er adapted to move said arm, means carried y the armpivot to lock the arm'in the open position, a solenoid to.

'move the arm, a gravity latch adapted to I the closed position, a

lock the solenoid in plunger for tripping the gravity latch, and asolenoid for operating said tripping means.

LESLIE ARTHUR HEDGER.

Witnesses: RALPH ADAIR EDDY, WILLIAM 'Josnrn DRYNEN.

described, a

